Timeline of Panama City

Prior to 20th century

1519 - Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion de Panama founded by Spaniards.

1539 - Royal Audiencia of Panama established.

1671 - Panamá Viejo sacked by privateer Henry Morgan.

1673

New settlement established 5 miles southwest of Panamá Viejo.

City wall, Palacio de las Garzas, and Saint Dominic Convent built.

1737 - Fire.

1752 - Royal Audiencia disestablished.

1760 - Cathedral built.

1821 - City becomes part of Gran Colombia.

1826 - June: City hosts Panama Congress.

1830 - City becomes part of Republic of New Granada.

1849 - Panama Star English-language newspaper begins publication.

1853 - La Estrella de Panamá newspaper in publication.

1855 - Panama Railway begins operating.

1856 - April 15: Watermelon War.

1878 - Fire.

1880 - Bishop's palace built.

1881 - Panama Canal construction begins.

1882 - L'Hospital Notre Dame de Canal established.

1887 - City fire department established.

20th century

1903 - City becomes part of independent Republic of Panama.

1904 - Ancon Hospital active.

1905 - Population: 22,000.

1908 - National Theatre of Panama opens.

1911

Way On Cemetery established.

Population: 46,500.

1914 - Panama Canal begins operating.

1916 - National Exposition of Panama held.

1924

National Archive building dedicated.

Hospital Santo Tomas rebuilt.

1925 - "Protest strike" against urban conditions.

1930 - Population: 74,400.

1935 - University of Panama established.

1940 - Population: 111,800.

1947 - December: Anti-U.S. unrest.

1953 - Auto-Cine (drive-in cinema) opens.

1955 - Club Deportivo Plaza Amador (football club) formed.

1962 - Bridge of the Americas opens.

1964 - January: Anti-U.S. unrest.

1970 - Gimnasio Nuevo Panama (arena) opens.

1981 - La Prensa newspaper begins publication.

1985 - Parque Municipal Summit established.

1986 - Mossack Fonseca law firm in business.

1988 - Metropolitan Natural Park opens.

1989

December 20: United States invasion of Panama begins.

Guillermo Endara becomes president

Mayin Correa becomes mayor of Panamá District.

1990 - Dictator Manuel Noriega surrenders to United States military forces on January 3.

1993 - Mi Pueblito created.

1994 - Ernesto Perez Balladares wins May 1994 elections and becomes president.

1995 - Club Deportivo Policía Nacional (football club) formed.

1996

Marine Exhibition Center of Punta Culebra established.

Miramar Towers built.

1997

Cines Alhambra (cinema) in business.

Panama Canal Museum established.

1999

Mireya Moscoso wins May 1999 elections and becomes the first female president of Panama.

Juan Carlos Navarro becomes mayor of Panama District.

Hospital Punta Pacifica founded.

21st century

2003 - Panama Jazz Festival begins.

2004 - Martin Torrijos wins May 2004 elections and becomes president.

2007 - Aqualina Tower built.

2008

February: Labour unrest.

Mormon temple and Ocean One hi-rise built.

2009

Estadio Javier Cruz (stadium) opens.

Cinta Costera land reclamation completed.

Ricardo Martinelli wins May 2009 elections and becomes president.

2010

Ocean Two hi-rise built.

Population: 880,691.

2011 - Tower Financial Center, F&F Tower, Yacht Club Tower, Megapolis Tower, The Point, and Trump Ocean Club built.

2012

Vitri Tower and Pearl Tower built.

Mayor Bosco Vallarino resigns; Roxana Méndez becomes mayor.

International Film Festival of Panama begins.

2014

Panama Metro begins operating.

Juan Carlos Varela wins May 2014 elections and becomes president

Biomuseo built.